Alison and Kirby Winfield’s story shows how the Haring Center transforms unexpected challenge into hope. With inclusive education, compassionate support and a strong community, the Center guided their family forward, and inspired them to give back.
In Seattle, the Haring Center for Inclusive Education’s EEU is deeply woven into the community. “Everybody knows someone who has been through the EEU or Haring Center… It’s impacted the city quite a bit and very broadly, even for people that don’t have a child with a disability.”
Alison and Kirby’s daughter, Kate, was diagnosed with Down syndrome and Duodenal Atresia at birth, requiring immediate surgery. The experience was overwhelming. “This was all new to us. We had no clue what was going on,” Alison remembered. While Kate was still in the hospital, their community stepped in. Friends from high school, hobbies, and earlier chapters of life pointed Alison and Kirby toward the Experimental Education Unit (EEU), opening a path they hadn’t yet known was possible. “I still clearly remember the stress Kirby and I felt walking around the parking garage trying to find the Haring Center, and then the sense of calm and reassurance that we would be ok once we were in the building with staff,” Alison remembers. Kirby added, “we felt like it was the only place in the world where we had the resources we needed and the people who understood what we were going through as a family.”
As Kate grew, so did their sense of belonging. Seeing her thrive in the classroom gave them hope. “I remember when she started scooting… she was so proud,” Kirby shared. “And seeing older kids with Down syndrome walking and expressing themselves” inspired hope.
The EEU provided more than education—it offered peace of mind. “There’s just nothing like the relaxing feeling you have when your kids go to school and you know you’re not going to get phone calls. You’re not going to be asked to pick them up. They’re not going to be kicked out,” Alison said. For the Winfield’s, that peace of mind became more than personal; it became a reason to ensure other families could experience the same stability.
They also found connections with other families. Alison remembers meeting Emma’s mom, who offered her email and friendship. “All week you felt alone… then on Friday, I would go to the EEU infant toddler program and everyone was just so positive about Kate.” Their story illustrates how the Haring Center not only changes lives inside the classroom but strengthens the entire community through inclusive education.
Today, Alison and Kirby are deeply committed to expanding the Haring Center’s reach. “We don’t want anyone to feel alone when they have a child like Kate,” Kirby said. Now, they’re the parents offering guidance and encouragement, just as Emma’s mom once did for them. As board members—and through Alison’s professional role as Operations Manager on the Professional Development and Training team—they’re working to increase access to inclusive education, advocating for and supporting changes that impact schools and systems locally, regionally, and around the world.
This dedication runs across generations. Alison’s mother, Leslie Vollbracht, and her late husband, William “Bill” Vollbracht, built a philanthropic legacy that continues with the Winfield’s through Kate’s story. This powerful symbol of inclusion and hope is embodied in Kate’s Classroom, an Early Support Program classroom, where her early milestones continue to inspire a future of limitless potential. The Winfield’s dedication across generations has transformed personal experience into a lasting reminder of inclusion, learning, and limitless potential.